Netanyahu. The government will convene in the next 48 hours to decide on tightening the closure
(Photo: Hassan Shaalan)
“The millions of vaccines we have brought to Israel have placed Israel in the first place in the world by leaving the corona. I am doing everything I can to continue vaccinating at this rapid pace,” Netanyahu said at the beginning of tonight’s cabinet meeting. “Thanks to the millions of vaccines and a short and tight closure, we will save many lives and be the first in the world to open up the economy.”
At the beginning of the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Bnei Gantz addressed the issue of the education system, which is at the center of controversy between the Likud and Blue and White when it comes to tightening restrictions in the third closure. “The vaccination campaign is a very important thing, which should be brought forward and promoted. Teachers’ vaccinations should also be promoted and harm to the education system should be avoided as much as possible.”
“If we have to hurt the education system, we should do all the necessary steps now, together with the teachers, to find a way to compensate the students who have been so harmed so much later in the school days,” Ganz said. “I think we should come to all these issues together as a government, despite the political debates between us, there are things here that Israel needs before anything else, and I suggest that we promote them.”
Ganz in an interview with the Ynet studio: “We will keep the education system open”
(Photo: Meshi Ben Ami)
Ganz added in an interview that he would oppose the closure of the education system as part of the tightening of the closure. “This is the most important thing in my eyes, and we will do everything to keep the education system open. Most of the infections found among students did not occur inside the education system. If most of the infections are outside, then why pay the price of education?”
Finance Minister Israel Katz presented the business assistance program at the beginning of the meeting: “We need to make one last effort to help. The safety net is working, but now more assistance is needed for the citizens.”
“This plan is accurate, it pertains to criteria, not only in grants, but also in the granting of property tax exemptions later on, and it comes along with an extensive lending program,” Katz added, thanking Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ganz that “definitely showed a state-of-the-art approach. Political and the need to help the citizens of the country. “
Katz. “The new aid plan is accurate”
(Photo: Moti Kimhi )
During the meeting, Minister of Transportation Miri Regev turned to the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Finance, Eran Yaakov, and asked why the merchants claim that “summer goods are gone and they need to close the store?”.
Yaakov replied: “It’s just in fashion, it’s about accumulating inventory. They wanted to know when the closure begins and ends in order to get organized and adjust to this period. According to reports, they threw away most of the summer inventory and coped well … The safety net gave an imperfect answer “And we will try to give the fashion sector another answer.”
During the discussion at the cabinet meeting, the ministers repeatedly raised the question of tightening the closure and imposing further restrictions. Minister Yuval Steinitz wrote in the WhatsApp group for ministers: “Friends, we need a full and quick closure! Before the British mutation and the third wave make a name for ourselves.”
He went on to say: “Every day that the British mutation continues to rage in the country. The British horses fled the stable. We did not respond two weeks ago or in the last few days. If we do not make a short but quick closure, including the education system, we will pay dearly for this story. That is why I am saying this now and not in the Corona Cabinet, I call on you to recover. “
Minister Omar Yankelevich also supported the tightening of the closure: “I think there should be a complete closure already, and I say my opinion in the closed places, but the schools should be closed.”
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said: “I apologize for the tone, but this is an idle discussion. If we do not take the most difficult steps there are – in March-April we will be in the situation of Italy last March. I know what I am saying, and we will present these things in government. “We will be in a more serious health crisis than the first and second wave, and this is a promo for tomorrow’s discussion so that we do not go to sleep at night with the feeling that we will only last.”
At the end of the meeting, the government approved the economic assistance program. Among other things, it was determined that the eligibility threshold set for receiving business assistance grants in November and December 2020 will also be extended to the eligibility period of January-February 2021. In addition, it was determined that the Minister of Finance has the authority to extend this extension to additional eligibility periods.
In addition, an additional assistance grant was provided for businesses. A business whose turnover in 2019 was more than NIS 18,000 and less than NIS 300,000, and whose turnover decreased by at least 25% in the period between March 2020 and December 2020, will receive the grant depending on the depth of the injury.
A business that suffered a 25-40 percent damage to the business turnover will receive a grant of NIS 3,000, a business whose business turnover is affected by 40-60 percent will receive a grant of NIS 5,000, and if the business turnover is damaged more than 60% compared to the same period in 2019 the business will receive A grant of NIS 9,000.
A business whose turnover in 2019 was more than NIS 300,000 and less than NIS 400 million, and was entitled to three or more of the assistance grants for participation in expenses provided through the Tax Authority, will also receive assistance. The amount of the grant will be 50% of the average of the fixed expenses grant given to the business so far for eligibility periods in 2020, up to the amount of NIS 50,000.
It was also determined at the cabinet meeting that the Minister of the Interior will amend regulations under which property tax expenses will also be reimbursed to businesses affected by the corona crisis and their business turnover in 2019 was over NIS 400 million.